Cardinals survive wild fourth quarter to beat Jaguars

Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) celebrates with cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) after hitting a 57-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017.(Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

For three quarters on Sunday, the Cardinals and Jaguars played football the way your pops bragged that he did back in the day when folks appreciated a good run game, well-placed punts and ball security.

Then an Arena League game broke out.

Three turnovers, a long kick return, three touchdowns, one questionable coaching decision and a field goal later, the Cardinals had won 27-24 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

It ended when kicker Phil Dawson, who had missed six field goals this year, made the longest field goal of his 19-year career to win it. The 57-yarder flew over the crossbar with 1 second remaining.

“I liked the way we responded at the end to win a really close game,” coach Bruce Arians said. “This team needed that.”

It was the first of three consecutive home games for the Cardinals (5-6), and they will have a chance to win the next two if they play as well as they did in the first three quarters on Sunday.

The fourth quarter? Not so much. They spent the quarter responding to adversity they helped create, but they didn’t wilt as they had so many times before this season.

It was a crazy quarter filled with brilliant plays, some bonehead ones and an entertaining quarterback battle between the Cardinals’ Blaine Gabbert and the Jaguars’ Blake Bortles.

Really.

Here’s how it happened:

–The Cardinals led 16-10 entering the fourth quarter. Gabbert was playing efficiently against the team that drafted him 10th overall in 2011. The Cardinals hadn’t committed a turnover. The running game was working, and the defense was shutting down the Jaguars.

All that changed when Gabbert was hit by Yannick Ngakoue while trying to escape the pocket. He fumbled, and defensive end Calais Campbell, the former Cardinal, picked it up and ran 10 yards to the end zone.

Arians loves Gabbert’s running ability but said the quarterback “has to be more careful with that ball when he is getting out there.”

Former Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell picks up a fumble before scoring during the fourth quarter on Sunday.(Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

–Gabbert responded well to the adversity, which portends well for his future in Arizona. On the next possession, he made three big plays during a 75-yard touchdown drive. Twice he scrambled for first downs.

On the sixth play, he moved in the pocket to buy time and hit Jaron Brown for a 52-yard touchdown pass that gave the Cardinals a 22-17 lead.

“Some plays aren’t going to go your way, so you’ve got to do a good job of compartmentalizing those turnovers, those errors in judgment, just so you can go to the next play,” Gabbert said.

The Jaguars have one of the best secondaries in the NFL, but the Cardinals thought they would have a few chances to strike deep.

“J.B did a great job at the top of that route,” Gabbert said of Brown. “I just had to buy enough time to get that thing up.”

Gabbert threw to receiver Larry Fitzgerald for the conversion, and the Cardinals led by seven points. They ended up needing every one of them.

–Dawson’s first five kickoffs were touchbacks, but Corey Grant returned the sixth one 68 yards up the sideline.

“I think we relaxed,” Arians said.

The defense appeared to relax, too, because it took the Jaguars only four plays to score a touchdown. Bortles ran it in from 17 yards and finished with 62 yards on six carries.

“I thought we played well,” safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “There will be a lot of coaching points when we watch the film, but I think the one that sticks out the most is him keeping the ball three times for 60 yards. Those were the plays that really kept them in the game.”

–Gabbert made his biggest mistake on the next possession. He forced a pass intended for Chad Williams, but safety Barry Church read it and intercepted.

–It was the Cardinals defense’s turn to make a big play. On third down from the Cardinals’ 38, Bortles rolled right and threw a pass intended for receiver Dede Westbrook. Mathieu read the play, put his arms up and intercepted the ball.

“He was close to two more interceptions,” Arians said of Mathieu. “He’s been playing better and better. You can see his swagger coming out.”

Blaine Gabbert throws a pass against the Jaguars in the second half on Sunday.(Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

–The Cardinals faced fourth and 1 at the 50 with less than two minutes remaining. Arians, Mr. No Risk It No Biscuit, decided to punt but was tempted to go for it.

“It was real hard not to,” he said.

–The Jaguars had the ball at the 10 with 1:14 left and the Cardinals had one timeout. It appeared everyone would play for overtime. But on second down, the Jaguars attempted a pass that was broken up by Mathieu. The clock stopped.

“I ran the ball on first down and got greedy,” Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. “I should have ran the ball and ran the clock out and gone to overtime. That’s my fault.”

That allowed the Cardinals to use their timeout after third down. After a punt and a 12-yard return by Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals had the ball at their 39, with no timeouts and 16 seconds left.

Arians decided to try and win it.

–On first down, Gabbert hit running back Kerwynn Williams on the sideline for 10 yards to the Cardinals’ 49. That took five seconds.

On second down, Gabbert hit running back D.J. Foster, who made a brilliant catch with toes dragging inbounds. That gained 12 yards to the Jaguars’ 39. Eleven seconds left.

–In came Dawson for the 57-yard attempt. His career long was 56 yards. The snap, the hold and the kick were good.

“He said, ‘Yeah, I just tried to hit it smooth,’ ” Gabbert said. “It was smooth all right.”

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Arizona Cardinals Phil Dawson is greeted with cheers from the fans after kicking the game winning 57-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (right) is held back from Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) during a fight after their 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) celebrates with Patrick Peterson (21) and Alex Boone (rear) after hitting a 57-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars with one second remaining during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) celebrates after hitting a 57-yard field goal with one second left against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) celebrates after recovering a fumble for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) picks up a fumble before scoring ahead of Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle John Wetzel (73) during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles kicks the ball into the stands after running for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals running back D.J. Foster (37) returns a punt against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Calvin Pryor (29) during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown is hugged by Larry Fitzgerald after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) pumps his fist after converting a two-point try against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Blaine Gabbert is hits in the face by Jacksonville Jaguars Dante Fowler Jr. in the first half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Chandler Jones hugs Budda Baker after a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Tyrann Mathieu intercepts a pass by Jacksonville Jaguars Blake Bortles in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) celebrates after hitting a 57-yard field goal with one second left against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Deone Bucannon leaves the game with an injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Injured Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer watches his team play against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) runs around the corner against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Blaine Gabbert is chased out-of-bounds by Jacksonville Jaguars Aaron Colvin in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) puts pressure on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) while being blocked by offensive tackle John Wetzel (73) during the third quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Phil Dawson kicks the game winning 57-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) fumbles the ball after being tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) picked up the fumble and ran in for a touchdown. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert reacts after losing the ball and Jacksonville Jaguars Calais Campbell (93) returns the fumble for a touchdown in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown makes a catch scores a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Phil Dawson kicks the game winning 57-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals Josh Bynes was called for pass interference against Jacksonville Jaguars Marcedes Lewis in the first half on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (86) runs in for a touchdown after a catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals running back D.J. Foster (37) is tackled by \j58 during a run in the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) kicks a field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) celebrates a tackle for loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (86) high-steps into the end zone after a touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (86) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Barry Church (42) after a catch during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) pats inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) on the head as he walks off the field after an injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals line up for a field goal try against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) talks with Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians before playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up before playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Chad Williams (16) tosses the ball during warm up before playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. November 26, 2017. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton wears a costume during pregame warm-ups after losing the weekly quarterbacks contest before playing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 26, 2017 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports